By:Carrie James
A few dozen seniors gathered in the Little Theatre at East Meadow High School during second to last period to hear about how they will spend a majority of their second semester.
Known as the Senior Project, East Meadow High School teachers Danielle Casamassina and Liz McLaughlin spoke with more than 300 members of the senior class throughout the day Friday about the spring semester activity.
East Meadow High School adopted the program five years ago, after exploring ways to engage seniors during their final year, when many students lose interest in school work, Casamassina said.
"It came about because we were originally looking to engage the seniors in an activity that really prepared them for college and kept them active during their final year," she said of Senior Project. "We started it out on a voluntary process, but now all seniors [except those in Advanced Placement] are required to do it."
The Senior Project is basically a second-semester research project in one of three areas: community service, internship or a creative endeavor. Each student spends at least 25 hours engaging in one of the areas, whether it's volunteering or researching a non-profit organization, interning at a local business that interests the student, or pursuing a creative outlet such as play-writing. Then, the students must develop an oral presentation and a written research paper for their English classes, Casamassina said.
At this point in the year, students register for their senior projects and pick an area of interest to explore, Casamassina said. This year, about 330 students will participate.
"Right now, we are going over the project with our seniors, explaining their options and registering them," she said.
Casamassina and McLaughlin, who along with teacher Fred Aronowitz, coordinate the Senior Project, referred to various senior projects on display in the Little Theatre to give the 12th graders some ideas.
Some kids interned at area businesses or organizations. One presentation revealed what it was like to intern as a press person for the NCAA. Others detailed their experiences with a non-profit agency such as one girl's experiences with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. One presentation on display detailed the making of a neon sign for the school.
"You're only limited by your own imagination and your own guts," McLaughlin told the students during a presentation.
Casamassina added, "The sky is the limit with this project. If you have an idea, come to us. If you have a particular talent, showcase it, show us what you can do."
The Senior Project coordinators spend this first semester finding sponsors for students, whether it's a business man, an organization director or local artist. The sponsors serve as mentors to the students, giving them a glimpse into the area the senior chose to study. Students also take part in r
